Players who refuse to play with you anymore?

Billy_Bob

Billy_Bob

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
As I have improved my game, I have begun to win most of the games against certain players. Then they no longer want to play pool with me.

If they win the majority of games, they will play all day long. If I begin to win the majority of games, they refuse to play with me anymore.

This has been mostly lesser skilled players up to this point. But this recently happened with a very good player too. Before, when I could not win any games against him, I would walk in the door and he would look happy to see me. He would say "Rack 'em!" Now that I have been winning games against him... I walk in the door and he does not say a word. Comes up with excuses not to play me. Suggests I go play someone else.

So what about "A" players and above? Are they like this as well? If they have been playing pool for a few years with someone they can usually beat, then that player improves to the point where he begins winning the majority of games, will that "A" play continue playing him even though the "A" player is losing most of the games?
 
Its hard to get better playing people under your skill level or people you can beat consistantly. Always look to play people (for practice/learning purposes of course) better then you if you want to get better.

Now I dont consider myself an A player at all, but I always try to play people better then me.
 
Icon of Sin said:
Its hard to get better playing people under your skill level or people you can beat consistantly. Always look to play people (for practice/learning purposes of course) better then you if you want to get better.

Now I dont consider myself an A player at all, but I always try to play people better then me.
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Here's an idea you can try. It's true those A players and others better than they may not want to play you because you're too easy for them.

What I do against those guys is propose a race to 7 for 10 jelly beans, but they give me the breaks, the 4 and the 7. I tell them that this game will be harder for them, they'll have to maintain focus throughout the match and not leave me any easy shots that will let me get out. In essence, I'll only have to run 4 balls at most, usually less.

It's a tougher game for them. If they take the game and consistently beat you with that weight, ask for more weight. More in this case may mean asking for the breaks, the 3, the 5, the 7. Now that will put more pressure on them. At the same time, they'll be laying some pretty mean safes on you, to protect themselves, and having to deal with those safes will help convince you to learn how to kick and jump better. It's good all around.

Try it...

Flex
 
do these people not haggle with you at all? In my room im considered an a, a-........i love to gamble and its rare i cant make a game somehow. Lesser skilled players will walk up and say "give me the 7 and 8" and ill say go rack the balls. If there was someone there i knew was better than me id try to get a handicap and play, hell id prob play them regardless just for the action.
 
Gregg said:
Players who refuse to play me? Billy Bob for one...:mad:
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Well that's not exactly right. I will play, and play, and play with players who can win every single game.

Now this ticks me off...

I played one guy for two years and he won almost every game.

Two years!

Then I got to the point where I could start winning games against him. He would not play me for more than a week with me winning most of the games.

And that is the thing. I will play and play with those who can beat me, but when I improve and the tables turn, it is a different story!

Also I like to "study" those who can beat me. I learn what they are doing to win. Then learn to do these things myself. I need to play a lot of games with them though.

I am not going to play someone for money who is better than myself. Other than that, I welcome opportunities to lose, lose, lose - for hours and hours on end!
 
Billy_Bob said:
As I have improved my game, I have begun to win most of the games against certain players. Then they no longer want to play pool with me.
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Maybe the best way to look at this is that they are actually doing you a favor. They are, in essence, telling you that you have passed them by and that you now have to set your sights a little higher.

You obviously don't have any problem with being on the losing end of a game, so you just need to identify someone better than you are and lock in on them for a while until they quit you and you have to move up again.

All of the biographies of top players I have ever read had a progression similar to this. The player would lose and lose against a certain player and then eventually win big and leave that player behind to find someone else.

I would take it as a compliment rather than an insult.
 
Billy_Bob said:
I am not going to play someone for money who is better than myself. Other than that, I welcome opportunities to lose, lose, lose - for hours and hours on end!
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From time to time you should match up with those world beater players for 10 jellies or something just to see where your game really is. Very cheap lesson.

Flex
 
Billy_Bob said:
Well that's not exactly right. I will play, and play, and play with players who can win every single game.

Now this ticks me off...

I played one guy for two years and he won almost every game.

Two years!

Then I got to the point where I could start winning games against him. He would not play me for more than a week with me winning most of the games.

And that is the thing. I will play and play with those who can beat me, but when I improve and the tables turn, it is a different story!

Also I like to "study" those who can beat me. I learn what they are doing to win. Then learn to do these things myself. I need to play a lot of games with them though.

I am not going to play someone for money who is better than myself. Other than that, I welcome opportunities to lose, lose, lose - for hours and hours on end!
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I'm just pulling your chain. Don't let me shark you, AZ style. That's not how you roll!?
 
I guess I don't have a frame of reference here, I've never had a problem walking up to a better player and getting a match. Yeah sure some people may come across as snobs, perhaps some of them really are, but I've generaly found that if you challenge someone they'll play you.

Maybe it's my charming personality ;)
 
Billy_Bob said:
As I have improved my game, I have begun to win most of the games against certain players. Then they no longer want to play pool with me.

If they win the majority of games, they will play all day long. If I begin to win the majority of games, they refuse to play with me anymore.

This has been mostly lesser skilled players up to this point. But this recently happened with a very good player too. Before, when I could not win any games against him, I would walk in the door and he would look happy to see me. He would say "Rack 'em!" Now that I have been winning games against him... I walk in the door and he does not say a word. Comes up with excuses not to play me. Suggests I go play someone else.

So what about "A" players and above? Are they like this as well? If they have been playing pool for a few years with someone they can usually beat, then that player improves to the point where he begins winning the majority of games, will that "A" play continue playing him even though the "A" player is losing most of the games?
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I've seen this happen a lot.. but it may not be for the reason you think.

A great example of this is something has happened to me very recently. One of the regulars around here started bringing in a friend about 8 months ago who was just learning to play. Since he was a good friend of the guys, a lot of the regulars would play with him and give him tips. Naturally his game improved and he became quite good for the amount of time he had been playing. Still, he is no more than a strong C/low B player. But as his game grew, his head grew even bigger! I guess that all the encouragement and compliments he recieved on his progress really went to his head. I find that I cannot stand being around him anymore because of how big his ego has grown. He talks down to people who play at the C level when he was just there 2 months ago. I used to play him and consistently win... when he started winning a couple here and there, he went all ego-maniac on me. Now he finds me every week and gives a play-by-play of all the C players he beat and how weak they are. this is why people are avoiding him now.. not that they fear they'll lose to him, but that he'll boast his balls off.

I'm not implying that this is what happened in your case.. it just reminded me of the story. :D
 
supergreenman said:
I guess I don't have a frame of reference here, I've never had a problem walking up to a better player and getting a match. Yeah sure some people may come across as snobs, perhaps some of them really are, but I've generaly found that if you challenge someone they'll play you.

Maybe it's my charming personality ;)
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No, it's the bulge in your pocket! They want to get ahold of it ....LMAO
 
Kinda sad...

I see this all the time. Its all a matter of priorities and motives. If someone's motive is their ego or your money, then they have to win every time. Once they lose they are not the great player they thought. It's just an insecurity thing. Guys that play for fun will always play. Buy them a beer or chicken wings before you even start. That will soften them up to at least play a couple games. Plus, after they lose they can blame it on the beer and chicken wings!!! Leaves you in the clear for next time!
 
cueandcushion said:
Plus, after they lose they can blame it on the beer and chicken wings!!! Leaves you in the clear for next time!
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I've never heard that you can make someone lose with chicken wings :eek: :eek: :eek: . I'll have to try that. How exactly does that work? :D
 
Move to the next level my good man!

I remember 15 years ago being the one getting my head bashed in playing the top guys in my room for like 3 years. I was getting closer and closer to winning, and finally it happened. I just got more comfortable being in the ring with heavy hitters, and learned like a sponge.

After I won my first race to 7 for $20 (my lesson fees) even, always even! Andy my teacher shook my hand, and said I have become the most improved player in the area! That meant alot to me, because he was a VERY strong player, and promised me he wasn't doggin. I had a new found confidence. In the beginning I felt they could do no wrong, after a while I could see openings to take advantage of. I won a few more sets after that, then we switched to 14.1 for my real schooling.

I only beat him once playing 14.1, 150 points me getting 75. He ran 100 or better probably 50 times on me in a couple years playing that way. I remember him playing guys 80 no count, and thinking that was impossible!....

I miss those days!.....The best lesson I had was learning to play even, and finding a way to win....

Gerry
 
supergreenman said:
I've never heard that you can make someone lose with chicken wings :eek: :eek: :eek: . I'll have to try that. How exactly does that work? :D
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You can't MAKE someone lose with chicken wings. But as you know, anytime ANY good pool player loses a match, it is not his fault. It is the guys fault that recovered the table 6 months ago. It is the guys fault with the cigar smoking next to him. It is the hot girls fault for wearing short shorts and flirting with him. It was the railbirds talking too loud. So this gives the good pool player another "out" in terms of excuses for losing!
 
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